§17-4-1. Classification of state roads; control over state roads; control by county courts of roads, bridges and landings; roads in state parks, forests and public hunting and fishing areas made part of state road system.

The state road system shall consist of roads functionally classified into five categories as follows: (1) Expressway; (2) trunkline; (3) feeder; (4) state local service; and (5) park and forest. The authority and control over the state roads shall be vested in the commissioner of highways.

The county courts shall retain the superintendence and administration of roads, bridges and landings that remain under their jurisdiction as provided in section one, article ten of this chapter.

The commissioner of highways shall take control of all existing roads which are publicly owned within the state parks system and in the state forests including public hunting and fishing areas, formerly the responsibility of the director of the department of natural resources, on the effective date of this section and shall assume control of their further construction, reconstruction and maintenance as a part of the state road system. The commissioner is responsible for construction, reconstruction and maintenance as a part of the state road system of any new roads for public usage that may be constructed with the approval of the director of the department of natural resources, in existing state parks, state forests, public hunting and fishing areas or any such roads for public usage which may be established on publicly owned lands in any future state park, state forest, public hunting or fishing areas.

The director of the department of natural resources has the authority and responsibility to do the necessary cutting and planting of vegetation along road rights-of-way in state parks, state forests and public hunting and fishing areas.